Visiting the Minnesota State Fair Not Only for Deep Fried Food on a Stick
Jeff Gedgaud
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The fair for our county, Clay County, is held in Barnesville, just a few miles outside of Moorhead. The county fairs are both a gathering of 4-H'ers for the judging of their projects and a fair for the whole community to get out to and have fun. Some counties have rides and other attractions and all 
have food.
But not like the state fair. The food is probably the hottest topic at the fair, food on a stick that is. Over the years the food on a stick has become one of the hottest debates and topics of the Minnesota State Fair. For instance, deep fried candy bars on a stick, or spaghetti and meatballs on a stick. If they can figure out how to get it to stay on a stick for the amount of time it takes for you to pay for it, they will do it.
The idea is not a novel one or even new, in fact it has been around for a long time. The corn dog traces it's origins to at least the 1940's and of course we can all understand the humble beginnings of the kabob. A lonely ancestor hunkered down eating his wild roasted boar or whatever and figuring out if you held it on a stick, you could put it in and out of the fire easier than burning your hand. Today we don't have to eat things skewered on a piece of pine or bamboo, but it is fun, and the ingenious things they come up with are part of that fun.
There are all kinds of things besides food on a stick at the fair, and we tried a lot, roasted alligator, Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes, kettle popcorn and of course for desert a deep fried Snickers candy bar. The candy bars are coated in a sweet breading and quickly deep fried, I think they freeze the candy bars before frying but I don't know for sure, they are hot and really good, so was the other food we tried. The fair has both the 4-H parts and the general fair areas to it, the 4-H has a building on the grounds that hold not only the dorms for fair goers from the county 4-H clubs to stay overnight at but the fair projects are exhibited and judged there.
But not like the state fair. The food is probably the hottest topic at the fair, food on a stick that is. Over the years the food on a stick has become one of the hottest debates and topics of the Minnesota State Fair. For instance, deep fried candy bars on a stick, or spaghetti and meatballs on a stick. If they can figure out how to get it to stay on a stick for the amount of time it takes for you to pay for it, they will do it.
The idea is not a novel one or even new, in fact it has been around for a long time. The corn dog traces it's origins to at least the 1940's and of course we can all understand the humble beginnings of the kabob. A lonely ancestor hunkered down eating his wild roasted boar or whatever and figuring out if you held it on a stick, you could put it in and out of the fire easier than burning your hand. Today we don't have to eat things skewered on a piece of pine or bamboo, but it is fun, and the ingenious things they come up with are part of that fun.
There are all kinds of things besides food on a stick at the fair, and we tried a lot, roasted alligator, Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes, kettle popcorn and of course for desert a deep fried Snickers candy bar. The candy bars are coated in a sweet breading and quickly deep fried, I think they freeze the candy bars before frying but I don't know for sure, they are hot and really good, so was the other food we tried. The fair has both the 4-H parts and the general fair areas to it, the 4-H has a building on the grounds that hold not only the dorms for fair goers from the county 4-H clubs to stay overnight at but the fair projects are exhibited and judged there.
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- The food is not the only reason to get out to the state fair, rides and 4-H exhibits abound.
- The Technology and Fine Arts buildings have all kinds of interesting things.
- The State Fair for Minnesota is located in the heart of Minneapolis, Minnesota.